Sarah Regan was naturally horrified to find the content of her baby’s diaper was not urine or poo, but blood. In a panic, she rushed little Birdie, then nine months old, to the emergency ward where after series of tests, it was discovered that the blood was the toddler’s first period.
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Precocious puberty
Birdie was diagnosed with precocious puberty, an extremely rare condition that causes a child to experience puberty too soon. Children with this condition develop physical signs of sexual maturity such as breast growth, pubic hair, voice changes and in Birdie’s case, menstruation before the age of 8 (in girls) and 9 (in boys), according to Stanford Medicine.
The doctors who attended to Birdie found that her bones had advanced by 18 months; most children with the disorder grow fast at first. But they also stop growing before reaching their full genetic height potential. Sarah, the mother of three said, Birdie’s ‘period’ hasn’t been consistent over the last two years.
She’s had spotting since the full bleed. It hasn’t been monthly. It’s stretched itself out, it’s not regular. It makes it really hard to track. We’re trying to make sure it doesn’t affect her physically.
‘Normal child’
Sarah, who is based in Sydney Australia, said they will consider hormonal injections to slow down her growth if she starts to experience other signs of puberty earlier than normal.
As her mom I hope it doesn’t affect her appearance and growth more than any other child her age. If we need hormone therapy then we’ll do it, I just don’t want it to make her different
In the meantime, the family’s ‘biggest hurdle’ is having to explain 2-year Birdie’s condition to people, especially daycare staff. That notwithstanding, Sarah told Kennedy Media her daughter is a ‘normal’ toddler who throws tantrums when she doesn’t get her way.
Sources used:
Mirror: Baby has rare condition and is going through puberty after mum finds blood in nappy
New York Post: I rushed my baby to ER with a diaper full of blood — to be stunned by her diagnosis
News.com.au: Sydney mum stunned by diagnosis after shock find in baby’s nappy
Stanford Medicine: Precocious Puberty
